From England to Malibu: The Life Lessons of Coach Max Rooke

Picture this: It’s 1998. A young man from England, told he wasn’t quite tall enough or strong enough to make it as a professional soccer player, packs a single suitcase, a dream, and a stubbornly positive attitude. His destination? Macon, Georgia—a place he’d never heard of—on a wild gamble to play college soccer in the U.S.

That young man was Max Rooke, and what followed was a journey not just across countries, but through the heart of what it means to lead, inspire, and build character through sport.


Soccer as the Vehicle, Life as the Lesson
Max’s playing career took him to world stages, representing Great Britain in the World University Games in Beijing and Korea. But when the whistle eventually blew on his competitive playing days, he turned to coaching—not to chase wins, but to give back to the game that had given him so much.

What he discovered along the way? Soccer was never just about soccer. It was the perfect vehicle to teach life’s most important lessons: resilience, identity, meaning, and gratitude.


The Power of “State”
Max’s philosophy starts with one simple but often overlooked question: Is the state you’re in aligned with the results you want?

You can have the biggest dreams in the world, but if you’re showing up tired, distracted, and negative—you’re already out of the game. Whether it’s on the field, in business, or in relationships, Max teaches his athletes to master their state—physically, mentally, and emotionally—so they can perform at their peak when it matters most.


Identity Beyond the Jersey
One of the most powerful themes in this conversation was identity. For many athletes, their entire self-worth is wrapped up in being “the star.” But what happens when you’re no longer starting… or worse, when injury sidelines you?

Max works tirelessly to help his players understand: Your value doesn’t come from what you do—it comes from who you are. When athletes grasp that truth, they stop fearing failure and start stepping into their fullest potential.


The “Big Box, Little Box” Shift
Perhaps the most unforgettable story was about a player named Brie, whose goals were sky-high: WCC Player of the Year, All-American, U.S. National Team. But every season, she fell into the same trap—judging herself only by what she hadn’t achieved yet.

Max challenged her to stop focusing solely on what she wanted and instead focus on who she needed to become. The results? Within months, she not only hit her original goals but exceeded them—going pro, playing in an FA Cup Final in front of 70,000 fans, and getting a U.S. National Team call-up.


For Parents: Ask Better Questions
Max also had a message for parents of young athletes: the questions you ask shape your child’s sense of worth. If your post-game conversation is always, “Did you win? How many goals did you score?” you’re reinforcing performance over personal growth.

Instead, ask: Did you have fun? What did you learn? What challenged you today? These questions open the door for self-reflection and resilience—skills far more valuable than any stat line.


Winning is the Point, But Not the Purpose
At Pepperdine, Max and his coaching team aim high—conference titles, NCAA runs, national rankings—but never at the expense of character. They believe in building competitive warriors who are also compassionate teammates.

And sometimes, the proof of success comes years later, like the former player who returned to tell them she was dominating her pharmaceutical sales job simply by applying the habits she learned at Pepperdine: show up on time, work hard, get it done.

Max’s journey is a reminder that sports, at their best, prepare us for something far greater than the next game—they prepare us for life. His stories will make you laugh, reflect, and maybe even rethink how you define success.